OPP are warning residents to be on the look out for fake calls from scammers claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Residents have contacted the OPP after receiving calls stating that they owed money and that there was an outstanding warrant of arrest if not paid.
The OPP note that this scam has been reported in the past, but it is now coinciding with income tax paying time.
Police want you to:
- Hang up immediately if there’s anything suspicious or unprofessional about the call—the CRA will NEVER threaten you with immediate arrest, use abusive language or send police.
- The CRA will NEVER request a payment by Interac e-transfer, online currency such as bitcoin, pre-paid credit cards or pre-paid gift cards such as iTunes, Home Depot, etc. The CRA’s accepted methods of payment are online banking, debit card, credit card or PayPal through a third-party service provider, and pre-authorized debit.
If you or someone you know suspects they have been targeted by a phone call scam, contact your local OPP detachment, nearest police authority, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or p3tips.com.
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